Last modified: 2018-12-15 by rob raeside
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The shape of that flag is very interesting. I have travelled frequently
in Poland over the last few years and I've not seen anything like that
before. I don't suppose anyone with greater language skills than mine has
any further information, or photographs of it flying?
Colin Dobson, 10 Jul 2005
The word "Łuk" ("Luk" to make it simpler) means "Bow" (as in
Archery), and the designer of the flag, Dr. Krzysztof Skupienski, wanted
to stress the history of the
region in the symbolism of the flag of the county.
In the 15th century, the Land of Lukow (Łuków) was covered in 80% with
dense forest and hunting deer (with the bow and arrows, obviously) was
an important occupation of its inhabitants, hence the shape of the flag
resembling the bow.
Further, as Dr. Skupienski explains on the county website, the Arms are relating the history of the territory. In 1474 King Kazimierz Jagiellonczyk (Casimir Jagiellon) ordered the formation of the Lublin Voivodship out of the Lands of Lublin, Lukow and Urzedowo. The three deer, adorned with the golden crowns on necks, represent the belonging of the Land of Lukow to the Voivodship of Lublin as one of the original components. (Single deer with the crown is the Coat of Arms of the Land of Lublin dating back to the early 14th century, as described in "Insigniorum clenodiorum Regis et Regni Poloniae descriptio" by Jan Dlugosz, long before it was to become a Voivodship)
The alternating horizontal stripes of yellow and white in the fly portion of the flag stand for the heraldic colors of the arms - gold and silver (or and argent).
Because of the relative novelty of the flag it is hard to find any photograph
of it on the net yet. I will be in Poland in September and will try to
get a more detailed
explanation for the shape of this flag from Mr Alfred Znamierowski,
as he is a member of the Heraldic Commission of the Ministry of Interior
and Administration, which approved the design of the county's flag as being
in line with the heraldic and vexilollogical requirements.
BTW, the pronunciation of the name "Łuków" is closest to an
English "Wookoof".
Chrystian Kretowicz, 10 Jul 2005